Courtesy of VHS Coaches

Volleyball

Valdez  VS Monroe VolleyBall 9/20-21/19

Head Coach: Adam Sharrai

Assistant Coach: Katie Burns

Buc Volleyball matched up against the Monroe Rams this weekend with play Friday night and Saturday morning.  The Bucs took the Rams in 3 straight games but not without struggling to find some rhythm and fluidity on the court.  The Bucs agreed they need to focus more and discipline themselves in their base play, communication, passing, and defense.   

Saturday began with slow starts but actually became a little easier for the Bucs who began moving and communicating more efficiently  as the games progressed.  The third game also got off to a slow start as well and the Bucs trailed most of this game finding themselves down 18-23 and then 20-24 game point Rams.  After a time-out discussion, the Bucs focused their efforts and chipped their way back holding off the loss to tie it up 24-24.  They kept their efforts up to push on to 26-24 holding the Rams to a 6-0 run to win the game and match in three straight.

The Bucs agreed they need to continue working hard in practice and perfect their skills and discipline to play at the level they wish to reach.  The Bucs kept at it showing their determination and are ready to keep working hard—Go Bucs!

Next Week:  Non-conference @ Cordova

Cross Country

Trailblazers-Wasilla Invite 2019

Photo courtesy of Melissa Koontz

The Buccaneers Cross-Country team braved cold and wet conditions in the valley.  Due to the torrential downpours earlier in the week, the meet was moved from Wasilla to the Palmer High School Trails.  The team was excited because they know these trails well. 

Only 5 runners participated in this meet as the team continues to battle sickness and injuries.  Junior Wyatt Mehlberg has been nursing an old ankle injury and decided to continue rehabbing his ankle so he can run at regionals.  Senior Rafael Alfaro led the team as captain, while continue to rehab his back.  Seniors Kalin Woods and Katelyn Wadsworth spent the weekend getting healthy after being sick.

The rain let up just in time for the Boys open race.  Freshman Patrick O’Brien represented Valdez and held a steady pace.  He turned it up on the home stretch down the track and finished in 27:01.  O’Brien overcame the slick course to finish strong.

Sophomore William Benes and Freshmen Cole Wadsworth and Jason Smilie represented Valdez in the Boys Varsity Race.  All three runners stayed close in the first lap.  Benes began to use his long legs to pull away from his teammates in the second lap.  Staying consistent, he remained in the first half of the race pack and Benes finished at 19:35.  Freshmen C. Wadsworth and Smilie continue to push themselves with every race.  Despite overcoming a lingering cold, Smilie set a new personal record of 21:10, with Wadsworth hot on his heels at 21:25, also setting a new personal record.  These two young runners are determined to secure a spot for state.

Last, but certainly not least, Senior Chloe Miller continues to impress.  Miller started of surprisingly strong, holding second place until coming to the first hill.  Her fast pace at the start was hard to hold and she began to slip, but managed to hold onto her new quicker overall pace.  Finishing just shy of her personal record last week at 23:55 Miller has proved that she is consistent and can hold her faster pace for longer.

Next week is Regionals and a true test of the grit these athletes possess!  The top 15 runners for each division compete at state.  Within 3A/2A/1A Valdez currently has 4 male runners within the top 10.  Jin Shiozaki is 3^rd, followed by Rafael Alfaro in 4^th and Kalin Woods in 5^th.  William Benes is currently in 7^th.  Other possible contenders for state are Jason Smilie in 31^st place and Cole Wadsworth in 33^rd place.  For the girls, Chloe Miller is in 9^th place and is followed by Katelyn Wadsworth in 10^th and Sophia Palomar in 11^th places.  Momoka Ishikawa is also a contender in 13^th place.  Go Bucs!

Results

Football

Valdez Football vs. Redington

It was a cold, wet Friday night at Redington.  Despite fumbling 3 of our first 5 plays in the slippery rain, we generally played a very good first half.  We held Redington from scoring multiple times in the red zone. However, offensively we couldn’t break through. Despite not moving the ball well, we were only down by a score of 0-6 at the end of the first half, and ready to take control in the second half.

On the first play of the second half, however, Redington scooped up the kickoff and returned it up the middle all the way for the touchdown. The remainder of the second half was similar, as we found it difficult to pass or run the ball effectively. Defensively, we were down 4 starting players as well for various reasons, and as we became tired it began to show.  On the bright side, Josh Baczuk recorded his first career interception.It was a cold, wet Friday night at Redington.  Despite fumbling 3 of our first 5 plays in the slippery rain, we generally played a very good first half.  We held Redington from scoring multiple times in the red zone. However, offensively we couldn’t break through. Despite not moving the ball well, we were only down by a score of 0-6 at the end of the first half, and ready to take control in the second half.

The game ended as a loss to the Buccaneers at 42-0.  This week we travel to Fairbanks to take on the Monroe Rams on Saturday evening.